How to split the screen into 2 Xiaomi apps: The Complete Guide

Multitasking is what distinguishes modern smartphones from simple calls of the past. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often wonder how to effectively use a large display to work simultaneously. Splitting the screen into two applications allows, for example, to watch videos and chat in the messenger or copy text from one program to another without unnecessary switching.

The split screen feature in the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS is quite convenient, but has its hidden nuances. Not all users are aware of hot keys or special gestures that speed up access to this mode. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to activate, customize windows and solve the typical problems that users face when trying to run two applications at once.

It's worth noting that the mode works correctly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the specific model of your gadget. On older devices with low RAM, the system can force the background applications to close, making full Split Screen impossible. However, on most modern models, this feature works consistently and significantly improves productivity.

Preparation of the device and compatibility check

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your device technically supports split-screen. Although Xiaomi implements this option in most of its products, on low-end models, it can be software limited. Verification begins with the operating system version: for stable operation, you prefer to have Android 7.0 Nougat or later.

It's also important to understand that not every application supports window mode. Social networks and instant messengers are usually perfectly adapted, whereas some games or heavy graphics editors may require full-screen display. If the application is incompatible, the system will simply not allow the split to be activated or fold it into a regular window.

• 📱 Make sure the smartphone model is not Go Edition or ultra-budget segment with less than 2GB of RAM.
• 🔄 Check for system updates in the Settings menu → The phone, as in the new versions MIUI Algorithms of windows are improving.
• 🚫 Be aware that some system applications, such as a calculator or voice recorder, may not have split-screen support.

⚠️ Warning: On devices with less than 3GB of RAM, activating a second heavy application could lead to the first one being automatically offloaded from memory.The system will try to free up resources, making multitasking meaningless.

For advanced users, there is the possibility to check the support of the function through the engineering menu or ADB-But for most cases, a standard setting check is enough, and if there are no obvious switches on the menu, it doesn't mean that the function is not available, it may just be hidden in the interface or activated by gestures.

The classic way through the menu of recent apps

The most common and versatile method of activating split screens on Xiaomi smartphones is to use the task menu, which works on all current versions of the shell, whether you use button navigation or gestures. The algorithm is simple, but requires accuracy when swiping.

First, open the app that will be at the top of the screen. Then go to the menu of recent apps. Depending on the navigation settings, this is done by swiping from the bottom up with a delay (for gestures) or pressing a square button (for button navigation).

Next, you need to make a long press on the preview of the application or swipe down from the window header (depending on the version of MIUI). In the context menu that appears, select an icon that resembles two rectangles located on top of each other, after which the system will prompt you to select the second application from the list of frequently used or all installed programs.

• 👆 To separate, press and hold your finger on the application card in the task menu near 1-2 seconds.
• 📑 If the split icon doesn’t appear right away, try swiping the app card down a little to reveal the extra buttons.
• 🔄 After selecting the second application, the window boundaries can be moved by dragging the dividing line with your finger.

If a long press doesn’t work, try to find the split button directly on the preview of the running application, sometimes it is made as a separate icon to the right of the name.

Use of side panel and floating windows

The MIUI and HyperOS shell offers a more flexible multitasking tool, the Sidebar, which allows you to quickly run applications as floating windows or in split-screen mode without interrupting current activities, especially when you need to quickly respond to a message without leaving the game or browser.

To activate the sidebar, go to Settings → Special Options → Application Sidebar. You need to turn on the activation switch and select the applications that will appear in the Quick Access list. Once turned on, a semi-transparent bar that calls up the menu will appear on the screen.

When you open the sidebar, you'll see a list of selected applications. If you drag an application from this panel to the free space of the screen, it will open in a floating window. However, if you drag the application to the top or bottom of the screen, the system will suggest splitting the screen. This method is often ignored, although it is the fastest way to switch between tasks.

⚠️ Attention: Sidebar may spontaneously close or not appear in full-screen applications (games, videos) if the settings do not require forced display.

Size setting of windows and process management

Once the screen is split into two, the user has the flexibility to manage the space, the boundary between the applications is not fixed, it can be moved by changing the proportions of the information displayed, and this is critical when one application requires more space for comfortable reading or viewing.

To resize windows, tap a black or gray stripe in the middle of the screen and drag it up or down. In some versions of the system, you can save proportions: if you have set up a convenient ratio for a pair of applications, the system can remember this state the next time you run the same bundle of programs.

Each window is controlled independently, and you can scroll through the social media feed at the top of the screen while the video is playing or downloading at the bottom, but you should consider the processor burden: two active applications consume more resources, which can lead to a heating of the case.

• ↔️ Drag the dividing line to give priority to one of the applications by screen area.
• ❌ To close one of the windows, drag the dividing line to the very edge of the screen.
• 🔄 The Home button will roll out both apps, but they will remain active in the background until the memory is cleared.

Special attention should be paid to the swap button, which appears next to the divider on some versions of the firmware, which allows you to instantly swap the top and bottom applications in places, which is convenient if you are used to keeping the keyboard or the main control tool in a certain area of the screen.

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Tip: If one of the applications in the split screen stopped responding to touch, try folding both apps in the task menu and deploying them again - this will restart the process of rendering the interface.

The solution: Why separation doesn’t work

Despite the fact that the system is fine, users often face situations where the function is not activated or is not working correctly, the most common reason is the lack of support from the application itself, and software developers can block work in a smaller window if the program interface is not adapted to such permissions.

Another common problem is a lack of RAM: If there are many heavy processes running in the background, Android can block the second application from running in split mode to prevent performance from falling or the device from rebooting, in which case cleaning the memory before starting helps.

It's also worth checking the special features settings. Sometimes the split screen function can be disabled at the system level by the device administrator or as a result of a failure after a firmware update. In rare cases, resetting special features settings helps.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to use third-party applications to force split screen if the system function is not working. MIUI, causing the interface to "freeze" or incorrect display of the touch layer.

If neither of these methods works, check to see if the Simplified Interface mode or the older mode is on, and in these modes, many multitasking functions are artificially limited to make it easier to manage, and must be disabled through the basic system settings.

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The main reason for the refusal to split the screen is the incompatibility of a particular application with window mode, not a malfunction of the smartphone.

Alternative methods and hidden functions

For users who don’t have the standard methods, there are alternative ways to organize their workspace, and new versions of HyperOS have a feature called Smooth Windows, which allows them to run apps in floating windows on top of others, an evolution of simple split-screen.

In addition, Xiaomi Pad tablets and foldable smartphones have a full desktop mode, where windows can be placed arbitrarily, like on a computer. On conventional smartphones, this mode can be emulated using the “Second Space” function, running different applications in different profiles, although this will require dual authorization in accounts.

There is also a method of activation via ADB to force the mode to be turned on if it is hidden by the manufacturer.This requires connecting to a computer and entering commands, which is recommended only for advanced users. the adb shell am start -n com.android.systemui/.RecentsActivity command can help to call up the task menu with advanced options.

• 💻 Desktop mode is available on tablets and allows you to open more than two windows at the same time.
• 🔒 The second space creates an isolated environment where you can run copies of applications in parallel with the main ones.
• ⚙️ Hidden flags in the developer menu can unlock experimental multitasking features.

Using these techniques, you can get the most out of your device, but it's worth remembering that experimental functions can be unstable. Always back up important data before making deep changes to your system settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)